American Airlines mechanics: Many buyouts, few layoffs

American Airlines will not have to resort to mass layoffs during its bankruptcy, because so many mechanics accepted American Airlines' buyout offer.

ByAssociated PressOctober 28, 2012

In this August file photo, American Airlines airplanes are parked at their gates at JFK International airport in New York. American Airlines said Friday it may need to lay off as few as 290 mechanics as it struggles to get out of bankruptcy.

FORT WORTH, Texas — So many mechanics at American Airlines are taking buyouts that the company expects it will need to lay off only a small fraction of the number it had originally planned.

American officials said Friday that the airline will furlough as few as 290 mechanics and parts clerks. It will eliminate the jobs of nearly 1,000 mechanics but has more than 700 vacancies that the affected workers can fill.

American said in February that it would eliminate 4,600 jobs among mechanics and clerks as it restructured under bankruptcy protection.

"From the beginning, we tried to save as many jobs as possible, especially on the aircraft maintenance side," said James C. Little, president of the Transport Workers Union, which represents the employees. "I think we managed to do well compared with other airlines that went through bankruptcy."

Company spokesman Bruce Hicks said contract changes negotiated with the Transport Workers Union, including the buyouts, reduced the need for furloughs, or layoffs with rehiring rights. More than 1,500 mechanics and clerks applied for buyouts that offered from $12,500 to $22,500 to workers who agreed to leave voluntarily over the next year.

"Despite the significantly reduced numbers of furloughs, involuntary separations are an unfortunate but necessary part of the restructuring process," Hicks said.

The fate of several thousand bag handlers and other ground workers is still unclear. Last month, Americansent layoff notices to more than 11,000 workers, more than half of whom were so-called fleet-service workers including bag handlers. About 1,200 bag handlers signed up for early-out payments.

American and parent company AMR Corp., both based in Fort Worth, filed for bankruptcy protection in November. American is trying to cut annual labor costs by about $1 billion through layoffs, reduced benefits and other changes.